The Rebound & Put-Back That Saved a Season!

 

This photo sequence will undoubtedly be framed in the Novosel household for the rest of time...

In the top photo -- Notre Dame senior Natalie "Nasty" Novosel -- is in position to grab an offensive rebound.  In the middle photo, Natalie is grabbing the rebound.  And, in the bottom photo, Natalie has already let loose of the shot off the backboard -- awaiting it to fall in.

Natalie made the put-back with 4.6 seconds left on the clock to put the game into OT!

The rebound and put-back that saved Notre Dame's season!

The Mornin' After Irish Win Over UCONN

Notre Dame fans all over the world had to wake up this morning with a smile on their face -- the guy in this photo, probably did not...

THE IRISH ADVANCE IN THE FINAL FOUR TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

Muffet's Fightin' Irish decided it was so much fun beating Auriemma's gang last night -- that they thought "why not five more minutes of this!"

Here's the UND.COM coverage of the celebration "after the game" and a look around the worldwide web this morning, with what the media has to say about ND's big win:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN #1

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  ESPN #3

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #1

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #2

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT BLOG

LINK:  DENVER POST

LINK:  THE DAILY CAMPUS -- UCONN STUDENT NEWSPAPER

LINK:  THE OBSERVER -- NOTRE DAME STUDENT NEWSPAPER

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #3

LINK:  WNDU-TV

PHOTO OF THE DAY: IRISH ADVANCE!

This picture of Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Devereaux Peters -- says it all.

Brittany Mallory -- She's ALL IRISH!!!

She takes the toughest defensive assignment every night and she doesn't earn the national acclaim of her teammates -- yet, over a four minute span tonight -- Brittany Mallory was the greatest female basketball player on the planet!

I am so happy for Brittany and her family!

Notre Dame in National Championship Game!

It took 45 minutes -- but the IRISH are in the National Championship game for the second straight year!!!!

Notre Dame beat UCONN 83 - 75 behind Brittany Mallory and Skylar Diggin's heroics in OT!

It's the first time a Geno Auriemma UCONN team has ever lost three games to one team in the same season.  And, for the second straight year -- Muffet's Irish take out UCONN in the National Semi-Final.

That is FOUR WINS OVER UCONN IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES -- but who's counting!

(Photo above is of Natalie Novosel's rebound before her HUGE put-back bucket with 4 seconds left to take the game into overtime)

GREAT JOB IRISH!!!

LINK:  ESPN POST GAME COVERAGE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE  

LINK:  NCAA POST GAME COVERAGE

Jimmy Clausen Returns Home for NFL Pro Day

Nine former Notre Dame football players will perform this Tuesday on campus -- in front of scouts from every team in the NFL -- at the NOTRE DAME NFL PRO DAY.

Word on the street is Jimmy Clausen has returned to campus to throw passes to his former teammates in front of the scouts.  Clausen just might be doing this for his own good as well -- hoping to get out of Carolina...

Here's the story:

LINK:  NFL PRO DAY @ NOTRE DAME

Third Photo "Tweeted" from Final Four!

 

The Irish will be in their home WHITE jerseys tonight signifying that the NCAA Tournament Committee had ranked Notre Dame as the #2 overall team.  Photo "tweeted" by @ndwbb

Video of Irish Departing Hotel for Game!

Here's some video just "tweeted" of the IRISH leaving their hotel for their FINAL FOUR game against that school from Storrs, CT. 

AWESOME!

LINK:  IRISH LEAVE FOR ARENA

Second Photo From the Final Four...

Fighting Irish Digital Media's Tim O'Connor (@oaknd1) just "tweeted" this photo from courtside at the NCAA Women's Final Four.

New Website for the University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame launched a new website this afternoon.  You'll want to check it out!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S NEW WEBSITE

First Photo From Final Four: Crowd @ Hotel!

As you can see in this photograph "tweeted" by Pete Byrne WSBT-TV -- Fighting Irish fans turned out in full force at the Team Hotel this afternoon to cheer on the IRISH before their ride to the arena!

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Michael Floyd Will Go...

 

The NFL Draft is just twenty-five (25) days away and as you would imagine -- there are many thoughts on how early Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Michael Floyd, will be drafted. 

He's picked as high as #7 to Jacksonville and as low as #22 to Cleveland -- here's a link to a number of mock drafts from some NFL experts:

LINK:  2012 NFL MOCK DRAFTS -- FIRST ROUND

Skylar Diggins -- ESPNW Blog from Final Four!

Skylar Diggins and her Fighting Irish teammates were looking fashionable at the Final Four's Mile-High Magic event Friday night.  And, this was the subject of Skylar's most recent blog post from Denver.

You'll also enjoy the story on the legend of Skylar's headband.

Enjoy!

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

LINK:  THE LEGEND OF THE HEADBAND

The Fighting Irish Play UCONN at 6:30 PM ET

For the eighth time in the last fourteen months -- our Notre Dame Fightin' Irish will be taking on UCONN @ the Women's NCAA Final Four for the right to play Tuesday night in the National Championship game!  The game tips-off at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN. 

I took a lap around the worldwide web to see what the "experts" have to say about today's big game -- click on the links below:

LINK:  UND.COM PREVIEW OF GAME

LINK:  CONNECTICUT POST

LINK:  ESPN GAME BREAKDOWN

LINK:  IRISH HAVE CHIP ON SHOULDER -- ESPN

LINK:  NBC CONNECTICUT

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

ND's Morris Inn Renovation -- Impressive!

 

Here's the Notre Dame Avenue perspective of what the University of Notre Dame's Morris Inn will look like come September of 2013.  The renovation will begin this November.  Here's some of the highlights:

• An increase from 92 guest rooms to 138 guest rooms
• Average room size grows from 240 square feet to 360 square feet
• A 300 seat ballroom on the north end of the Inn

Irish Recruit MVP of All-American Game Today!

Jewell Loyd, the highest rated incoming recruit to Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish basketball program was also in Denver today -- playing in the WBCA High School All-American game -- and she didn't disappoint!

Loyd was named the MVP -- leading her team to a 74 - 62 victory, scoring 18 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists!

A good omen for the IRISH!

Congratulations Jewell!

LINK:  LOYD NAMED MVP OF ALL-AMERICAN GAME

LINK:  DENVER POST STORY

LINK:  JEWELL LOYD -- ABC NEWS STORY

Photo of the Day: Final Four Court in Denver

My brother Jay, who resides in the Denver area -- made the trek downtown this afternoon to catch the FINAL FOUR festivities in the Mile High City. 

He took this photo of the court -- which features the snow covered Rockies in the foreground...

Eighty-One Years Ago Today: Rockne's Death

March 31, 1931 -- in a Kansas cornfield, a plane went down killing legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne and seven others.  Rockne, only 43 years old at the time, had just visited his two sons in Kansas and was on his way to the west coast to participate in the production of the movie "The Spirit of Notre Dame."

What's not often discussed is Coach Rockne left the ND Football team in the middle of a nineteen game winning streak -- having gone undefeated his last two seasons as head coach (1929 and 1930) winning "back to back" National Championships.

The season after Coach Rockne's death (1931), the Irish extended the unbeaten streak to 27 straight games before losing the last two games to USC (who was visiting ND for the first time ever) and Army at Yankee Stadium.

LINK:  KNUTE ROCKNE ALL-AMERICAN -- MOVIE TRALER

The "FUN" for the Fighting Irish at Final Four!

Muffet's Fighting Irish spent the last couple of days in Denver preparing for tomorrow's contest with UCONN -- while still finding some time to look great in their dresses at a Final Four event Friday night.  You'll enjoy these stories from the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media:

LINK:  FRIDAY NIGHT EVENT

LINK:  MUFFET'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  IRISH PLAYERS' PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  SATURDAY @ THE FINAL FOUR

Ballroom Dancing Competition @ Notre Dame

This morning at 8:00 AM ET -- on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- college dance teams from all over the Midwest were competing in a ballroom dancing competition (IRISH DANCESPORT GALA) inside South Dining Hall.

I must admit I did not know ballroom dancing had become a "sport" on college campuses -- so I had to take a little video from my iPhone and do a little research.  Pretty cool!

LINK:  IRISH DANCESPORT

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S COMPETITION TEAM

Notre Dame #4 Dream School for Parents

The Princeton Review released its list of the top ten "dream schools" for PARENTS and the University of Notre Dame was #4 on the list!  Special thanks to Cappy Gagnon '66 for bringing this to my attention.  Here's the top ten:

1. Stanford University
2. Princeton University
3. Harvard University
4. University of Notre Dame
5. Massachusetts of Technology
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Cornell University
8. Duke University
9. Yale University
10. University of Southern California

LINK:  TOP TEN DREAM SCHOOLS

Notre Dame Arrives in Denver for Final Four!

Muffet's Fightin' Irish arrived in Denver for Sunday afternoon's "re-match" with the UCONN Huskies and the folks at UND.COM were along for the ride.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ARRIVES IN DENVER

Jeff Samardzjia Named a Starter for the Cubs!

The Chicago Cubs named their starting rotation this afternoon and former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzjia is their #3 starter!

Jeff has had a quality spring training for the Cubbies -- culminating in six scoreless innings yesterday and the news today he's moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation!  Here's a link to the coverage:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  MLB

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

ESPN Hoops Experts Talks Irish vs. UCONN

Here is a podcast of Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli who chatted today on ESPN RADIO about the upcoming Women's NCAA Final Four.  Specifically, the IRISH and UCONN meeting for the eighth time in the last sixteen months -- this Sunday afternoon.

LINK:  ESPN FINAL FOUR PREVIEW PODCAST

Muffet's IRISH Leave ND Today for Denver!

They're the best dressed team in women's college basketball -- as you'll see in the video below...

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame departed campus today for their flight today to Denver for the 2012 Women's NCAA Final Four!  The gang at UND.COM caught up with the team as they were leaving town.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  FINAL FOUR BOUND!

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEW OF GAME

A Couple of Domers Getting a New Start!

Charlie Weis '78 and Dayne Crist '12 on the football practice for the first time in Lawrence, KS yesterday.    I will be rooting for both this season!

The Day After a Final Four Performance!

Took a lap around the worldwide web this evening to see what the "experts" are now saying about Muffet's IRISH.  What a difference an 80 - 49 point beat down of Maryland makes...

Here's what I found along with a link to UND.COM's coverage of the IRISH in their post game celebration and media session.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND NEWSPAPER

LINK:  RALEIGH OBSERVER

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  WSBT - TV

LINK:  WSBT-TV #2

Practice #5 -- The Notre Dame Quarterbacks!

The Fighting Irish held practice #5 this morning and the folks at UND.COM pointed their cameras at the four competing for the starting QB position...

ENJOY!

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME QB

Photo of the Day: OFF TO DENVER!

 

This photo says it all...  Kayla McBride with a little souvenir!

A CLINIC -- IRISH WIN by 31 Over Maryland!

Folks, the women's basketball experts at ESPN -- four out of five of them picked Maryland over Notre Dame...

Girl, do I hope they pick UCONN over the IRISH!!!!

Tonight was one of the most dominating performances of all-time in NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY of a #2 seed -- as the IRISH win by 31 points over Maryland 80 - 49!

Skylar Diggins -- think she wasn't motivated by the "DOUBTERS" -- led the Irish with a TRIPLE DOUBLE; 22 pts., 10 rebounds, 11 assists and then 5 steals for good measure.  DOMINANCE!

NOTRE DAME OUTSCORED THEIR TWO OPPONENTS IN THE RALEIGH REGIONAL BY A COMBINED 75 POINTS -- think about that...

DENVER -- HERE COME THE IRISH!

The Irish will play Sunday night at 6 PM ET on ESPN against a school from Storrs, CT.  Should be fun!

LINK:  VIDEO OF IRISH DOING THE JIG!

LINK:  GAME BOX SCORE

Photo of the Day: First Photo From Raleigh!

This photo was just "tweeted" by Peter Byrne at WSBT-TV -- of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame huddling up before they begin warm-ups for their Regional Final in Raleigh, NC against Maryland.  Tip-off scheduled for 9:12 PM ET on ESPN.  Looks like an empty building doesn't it...

Walk-Off Three Run Homer: Irish Win Opener!

 

The Notre Dame women's softball team beat the Broncos of Western Michigan University in their home opener this evening with a two-out, WALK-OFF -- THREE RUN HOME RUN by Amy Buntin!

The IRISH trailed WMU 3 - 0 going into their last at bats...

A home run, triple, walk, fielder's choice (which the runner beat out) and another HOME RUN and the IRISH score five in the bottom of the seventh and it's game over!

This was my first-ever women's college softball game.  I walked in during the fifth-inning thinking they played nine innings...  I have to admit I had no idea the three-run homer was a walk-off until I saw the Broncos walk off the field.

I want to give a shout-out to Tom Lux '78 -- who was kind enough to give me some inside scoop on the Irish softball program.  Tom and his wife Anna are the proud parents of former Irish softball star Christine Lux '10 and junior first baseman Kathryn Lux '13.

Notre Dame Plays for Final Four Tonight!

 

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will play for the final spot in the Women's Final Four tonight when they tip-off at 9 PM ET against the Maryland Terrapins on ESPN.  The "experts" are all picking Maryland to beat the IRISH tonight -- I DON'T THINK SO!

Here's a link to UND.COM's preview of tonight's game.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. MARYLAND

LINK:  SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RALEIGH REGIONAL

Irish Recruits: McDonalds' All-Americans!

Muffet's IRISH are playing in Raleigh, NC tomorrow night...

The future of the IRISH hoops program (Jewell Lloyd & Michaela Mabrey) plays the next night (Wednesday) night in Chicago in the McDonald's All-American game -- 7 PM ET on ESPNU. 

Lloyd is a BIG TIME talent and Mabrey is the perfect compliment -- it's going to be fun seeing these two on the court next year with Diggins, McBride, Achonwa and company!  (Photo:  Jewell Lloyd)

LINK:  JEWELL LLOYD -- McDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN

LINK:  JEWELL LLOYD -- ONE OF THE BEST EVER

LINK:  MICHAELA MABREY -- McDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN

Coach Tony Alford at Practice Today!

The Notre Dame football team held practice #4 this morning in chilly weather conditions -- check that -- normal March weather conditions in the Midwest!

Anyway, what's fun about today's coverage from the Fighting Irish Digital Media team was their "miking" of ND coach Tony Alford during practice.  You'll enjoy this inside access to Notre Dame football.

LINK:  TONY ALFORD

Muffet's IRISH Getting Zero Respect from ESPN

Five of the folks at ESPN who cover women's college basketball have made their selection on who will win the Notre Dame vs. Maryland game tomorrow night...

Four of the five have picked Maryland.

You know what -- I kind of like that...

LINK:  WHO GOES TO THE FINAL FOUR 

LINK:  ELITE EIGHT -- PRESS CONFERENCE

The Irish Roll Over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Well, the Small Family Championship ended with Jimmy's school (Notre Dame) beating Kara's school (St. Bonaventure) 79 - 35.

The Bonnies never got into this game and it was over early as Muffet emptied the bench with 11 minutes to go.  Notre Dame moves on to play #2 seed Maryland Tuesday night at 9 PM ET.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  BOX SCORE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  ESPN GAME RECAP

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  BUFFALO NEWS #1

LINK:  BUFFALO NEWS #2

OT: Will Hamilton is a NCAA Champion!

A childhood friend, USS teammate and long-time training partner of our kids' (Kara & Brady) -- WILL "CHILL" HAMILTON won the NCAA Championship last night in the 200 Fly!  Hamilton, a freshman -- also clinched the team NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP for the California Bears with his win!

It's pretty cool seeing a kid you've known, since the age of eight, accomplish something like this!

Hamilton's time of 1:40.94 is the SIXTH FASTEST ALL-TIME in the 200 Fly -- think about that.  This time is not far behind Michael Phelps' American record time of 1:39.65

Will will now be a legitimate contender for one of the two spots on the U.S. Olympic Team -- in this event -- at the upcoming Olympic Trials.   

I also want to give a "SHOUT OUT" to John McGuire -- who was Will's only coach for the past ten years and our kids' coach as well at GREAT LAKES AQUATICS.  There's probably a tear or two in his eyes this morning -- seeing one of his kids win an NCAA Championship with such class.

LINK:  INTERVIEW AFTER 200 FLY WIN!

LINK:  COACH INTERVIEW -- FAST FORWARD TO 6:10 MARK OF VIDEO

LINK:  A TRIBUTE FROM A TEAMMATE

Who Will Be the QB for the Fighting Irish?

 

After practice #3 yesterday -- the four student-athletes competing for, I would argue, the most high profile position in college athletics:  THE NOTRE DAME QUARTERBACK -- met with the media for the first time.

Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, Everett Golson and Gunner Kiel will be THE NEWS coming out of South Bend, IN these next 160 days until the Irish play in Dublin, Ireland.  Here's what the media is saying these past 24 hours:

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  WNDU-TV

Skylar Diggins -- Her ESPNW Blog...

She truly is the most famous athlete right now at the University of Notre Dame -- Skylar Diggins...

For the second year running -- Skylar agreed to produce a video blog on her tournament experience.  Enjoy!

LINK:  MARCH 24 BLOG

LINK:  MARCH 19 INTERVIEW

LINK:  MARCH 19 BLOG

LINK:  MARCH 16 BLOG

Sixteen Turns to Eight Today -- GO IRISH!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will tip it off against St. Bonaventure this afternoon at 2:32 PM ET on ESPN2.  The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media produced a preview of today's game between the IRISH and the BONNIES.  (photo above of Skylar Diggins and Markisha Wright at practice yesterday)

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  PLAYERS' PERSPECTIVE OF BONNIES

ND Football: The Pads Came On Today!

In front of a number of the top junior high school football players in the country -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame broke out the "equipment" today and did some bangin'...

The good folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media were the only cameras allowed at practice -- so enjoy the show!

LINK:  PRACTICE #3 -- ND SPRING FOOTBALL

LINK:  COACH KELLY AFTER PRACTICE

Know Thy Opponent: St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish will play St. Bonaventure tomorrow morning at 2:30 PM ET in a Sweet Sixteen match-up in Raleigh, NC.  The Irish will be playing a program (BONAS) that has never been in this position before -- will they be able to handle it?

Yesterday, Coach McGraw met with the media to talk about this game -- see that link below.  Also, I've tracked down some of the local media coverage coming out of western New York for this match-up.

LINK:  MUFFET'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  BONA PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  BUFFALO YNN -- NEWS STORY

LINK:  BONAS vs. NOTRE DAME MATCHUP

LINK:  BUFFALO NEWS

LINK:  BONNIES RETURN TO CAMPUS

LINK:  RISE OF ST. BONAVENTURE BASKETBALL

The Face of Notre Dame Football!

Four years ago this young man from Hawaii shocked the recruiting world when he committed to the University of Notre Dame.  Manti Te'o is the definition of a Notre Dame Man.  Impressive human being.  Here's a link to an interview that took place today at ND:

LINK:  MANTI TE'O

Irish Swimmer Dyer -- 4th in 200 FR @ NCAA

University of Notre Dame swimmer Frank Dyer -- finished fourth this evening in the Men's 200 Freestyle at the NCAA Division I Swimming Championships in Seattle, WA.  Congratulations!

LINK:  RESULTS -- 200 FREE

LINK:  VIDEO INTERVIEW

Spring Practice #2 & Junior Recruiting Weekend

The folks at UND.COM had their cameras at practice today catching the Fighting Irish at work -- specifically the linebackers.  In addition -- the University of Notre Dame is hosting many of the top junior high school football players in the country on campus today and tomorrow.  It's a big recruiting weekend for the IRISH.

LINK:  SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE #2

LINK:  STORY ON IRISH VERBAL COMMITMENT

Media Reacts to the Start of ND Spring Football

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media had to say about the start of Spring Football at the University of Notre Dame.  Just click on the links below.  (photo above of Gunner Kiel.)

LINK:  ESPN: SPRING FOOTBALL -- EARLY STORY LINES 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN #2

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #2

ND vs. St. Bonaventure -- ESPN's Take

 

The folks in Bristol, CT are never short of opinions...

Today, their experts opined about Sunday's game between the IRISH and the BONNIES in Raleigh, NC.  For St. Bonaventure - it's a first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament and two wins later -- they get to take on "Goliath" in a game few feel they can win.  DANGER!

Here's what ESPN has to say about this Sweet Sixteen match-up:

LINK:  ST. BONAS vs. NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football is BACK!!!

The Notre Dame football team was back on the field today in GOLD HELMETS -- with the first practice of Spring Football at ND!  Practice started at 7 AM and ran until 10 AM.  Here's Coach Kelly's post practice media session along with a look "INSIDE" practice #1:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

LINK:  PRACTICE #1 -- VIDEO REPORT